ANTIOCH — With a passion for cooking and at the urging of friends Antioch couple Hani and Raqya Fahima decided to take a chance and open a Mediterranean restaurant in town. After a long search for the best location and careful planning, the couple opened Zam Zam Mediterranean Food on Lone Tree Way.

“Every time we had friends and guests over for dinner or a meal once they devoured the meal, they’d ask ‘why don’t you open a restaurant? The food is so great, it’s time for you to present it to the community and the whole world,’ ” Hani Fahima said. “So we thought why not?”

It didn’t take long to decide that they wanted to theme the restaurant after the food both Hani and Raqya grew up with. Their menu consists of Mediterranean favorites like kebabs, lamb, falafel and shawarma (meat cooked on a vertical spit), pita bread and baklava. They even decided to add an egg cheeseburger and chicken sandwich. Veggie plates, salads and Mediterranean soup are also available. Children might like to try some chicken nuggets with fries.

For those who really know their Mediterranean food, the couple even serves dolmade, which is grape leaves stuffed with vegetables and baba-ghannouj, which is an eggplant spread.

“People think we are Greek because this is Mediterranean food. The Mediterranean has many countries, in fact, 21 to be exact. We come from the north part of Africa, but the food is mostly the same all around the Mediterranean other than a few difference,” Hani said.

The couple opened their restaurant last November and has since developed a regular clientele. This has given them time to develop a consistency in their food. Hani has been able to use his experience from working in the restaurant business as a manager in the past to help build a successful business. The couple hopes to eventually open other similar restaurants around the Bay Area.

“I love to cook, entertain and most of all watch people smile and enjoy they’re first bite of the food I’ve prepared,” Raqya Alsaifi Fahima said.

For Raqya the best part of going into the restaurant each day is being able to work for herself, taking on the risk and the challenge and seeing the business she’s created from nothing grow to something she can only dream of.

“Most of all I love meeting people, having people talk about my food and the next time they’ll be back in, as well as, having people in our community enjoy and talk about the food I’ve cooked for them.”

After the positive experience she’s had over the past several months, Raqya is happy that they took the chance to open the business. She believes that credit needs to go to those that encouraged them along the way and all the customers who have come to the Zam Zam’s since day one.

For those who are just thinking about opening their own business but aren’t sure if they should take the next step, she says, “If you wish to open a business, take a chance and do so, otherwise you’ll never know.”

Zam Zam Mediterranean Food is at 3712 Lone Tree Way, Suite C near the Raley’s grocery store. They can be reached at 925-350-0159.

Meals can be purchased to go or eat in. They are open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closed on Sundays.